EURO 2028: Why The Hell Not?

Last updated : 12 April 2023 By FootyMad

The following joint statment from the home countries football associations has been released.

C:WindowsTempphpDCD2.tmp"Today, the UK and Ireland final bid to host UEFA EURO 2028 has been submitted. The bid is a detailed plan that shows how our nations are collaborating to stage an historic football festival for all of Europe and take the tournament to new heights.

An online presentation of our compelling bid, including a joint statement of support by our Heads of Governments, is here: UK & Ireland UEFA EURO 2028 Bid Brochure

We are delighted to propose to UEFA and the European football family a world-class stadia concept tailormade for EURO 2028. This plan is enhanced by our excellent technical facilities and operational experience.

The proposed host cities and 10 stadia across the five partner Associations are (gross capacity order):

1.   London Wembley Stadium (90,652)
2.   Cardiff  National Stadium of Wales (73,952)
3.   London Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (62,322)
4.   Manchester City of Manchester Stadium (61,000)
5.   Liverpool Everton Stadium (52,679)
6.   Newcastle St James' Park (52,305)
7.   Birmingham Villa Park (52,190)
8.   Glasgow Hampden Park (52,032)
9.   Dublin Dublin Arena (51,711)
10. Belfast Casement Park (34,500)

High-capacity, world-famous football grounds and state-of-the-art new venues will provide the platform for the biggest and most commercially successful UEFA EURO ever – making us a low risk, high reward host:

§  Almost three million tournament tickets available – more than any previous UEFA EURO

§  Average stadia capacity of 58,000 so more fans than ever before will attend matches

§  Matches hosted around our nations and regions to reach as many communities as possible

Our bid also places sustainability and good governance practice as top priorities:

§  Compact and connected transport plan – more than 80% of ticket holders able to travel to matches by public transport

§  Proposed match schedule to reduce emissions

§  Adhering to UEFA’s major event human rights principles to ensure an inclusive, discrimination-free and equal work environment for colleagues and volunteers

The UK and Ireland share a proud reputation as world-leading event destinations which have successfully staged some of the biggest global sporting tournaments – backed by strong government support. This includes the recent record-breaking UEFA Women’s EURO 2022.

Our vision –Football for all, Football for good. Football for the future’is a promise to help our Associations and UEFA grow a more diverse and inclusive game as well as connect with new audiences and the next generation of fans and volunteers.

To mark the bid submission moment, the Captains of our men’s national football teams showed their support for the UK & Ireland bid:

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1.      Harry Kane, England

2.      Séamus Coleman, Ireland

3.      Steven Davis, Northern Ireland

4.      Andy Robertson, Scotland

5.      Aaron Ramsey, Wales

We are delighted that our Government Partners are fully committed to hosting UEFA EURO 2028. They have signed the relevant tournament guarantees and will ensure the event is fully supported. This will create a welcoming, exciting and safe football experience that players and fans will enjoy in every city and every game.

With our Governments’ once-in-a-generation legacy investment, we share and support UEFA’s plan that hosting UEFA EURO 2028 is a significant opportunity to transform football development and generate meaningful economic, environmental and social benefits:

§  We predict UEFA EURO 2028 will generate cumulative socio-economic benefits of up to £2.6 billion (€3 billion) for our nations*

§  Bid Partners have already invested or committed more than £500 million (€567 million) between 2019 and 2025 to improve and upgrade grassroots facilities – with the aim of expanding investment programmes as UEFA EURO 2028 approaches

§  A further £45 million (€51 million) legacy fund will be invested to develop football and create additional legacies

§  The tournament will help create positive long-term community impact through volunteering, tourism and other training opportunities that provide people with skills for life

§  The tournament will help create positive long-term community impact through volunteering, tourism and other training opportunities that provide people with skills for life

We look forward to continuing our engagement with UEFA and listening and learning from the European football family to enhance our bid plans


CO-SIGNED BY FOOTBALL ASSOCIATIONS OF SCOTLAND, ENGLAND, IRELAND, NORTHERN IRELAND AND WALES